Riverbanks Zoo celebrates World Oceans Day Wednesday

If you’re not making a day trip to the coast to celebrate World Oceans Day Wednesday, you might enjoy an inland observance at Riverbanks Zoo.

According to the United Nations, oceans “are the lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe,” as well as “a major source of food and medicines and a critical part of the biosphere.”

Activities at Riverbanks will help visitors learn how to take action to maintain healthy oceans and why healthy oceans make a healthy planet. Primarily, the zoo plans to focus on disposable plastic pollution, discussing how it affects the oceans and its own plans to reduce disposable plastics.

The Ocean Project, the nonprofit group that organizes World Oceans Day, is encouraging people to take the Better Bag Challenge and promise to stop using disposable plastic grocery bags – as well as microbeads, found in cosmetics and personal care products, and disposable bottles, utensils and wrappers – “as these items often end up as plastic trash in our ocean.”

The zoo’s newest exhibit, Sea Lion Landing, houses sea lions and a harbor seal and includes a sculpture of a sea turtle made entirely of garbage found in the ocean. And if you need to see a real ocean on World Oceans Day, check out the webcam of Pier 39 in San Francisco, the inspiration for Sea Lion Landing.

The World Oceans Day celebration also includes some animal enrichment activities, which are designed to encourage natural behaviors and instincts. Keepers encourage animals to explore objects that include sounds, scents or hidden food, stimulating them mentally and physically.

World Oceans Day is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday at Riverbanks Zoo, 500 Wildlife Parkway. All activities are free with membership or paid admission. Save 20 percent on admission if you purchase tickets online.